Guilty of aggravated assault

A Gulfport man found guilty of aggravated assault yesterday could serve up to 20 years in prison.
Thirty-three year-old Merlin Williams was arrested in July 2016 for stabbing his girlfriend repeatedly in the chest, arm, back, neck, and legs.
After receiving the verdict, Circuit Judge Christopher Schmidt sentenced Williams to the maximum penalty of 20 years suspending five years and leaving Williams 15 years to serve in prison.